Improvement in toe tip or box for boots and shoes



F. E. DABROW & o. E. WAIT.

' 1 Toe-Tips or Boxes for Boots and Shoes).

N 14g ()3] PatentedMarch 31,1874.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN E. DARROW AND OSCAR E. WAIT, OF ROOKPORT, MASS.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOE TIP OR BOX FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.149,03 1, dated March 31, 1874; application filed May 24, 1873.

Our improved toe -box is formed wholly of thin rawhide pressed into shape by means of heated dies, (or dies when the material is hot,) and its body or main portion is of concave form, and is provided with arms for securing it within the toe of a boot or shoe, all as hereafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view'of a rawhide toe-box which embodies our invention, the same being shown bottom side up. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank from which said box is formed; and Fig. 3 is a top view of a half-box, which also-embodies our invention.

Our toe-box is designed to be placed between the lining and uppers of boots and shoes, to stiffen them at the toes and retain the upper-leather at said point in its extended position. Although this device forms part of a finished boot or shoe, and is attached thereto by the boot or shoe manufacturer, it is designed to be sold in the market as a distinct article of manufacture, to be purchased with other manufacturers supplies.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 3 show two forms as modifications of our invention. The one shown at Fig. 1 is termed a toe-box, and extends farther up, covering the tops of the toes, and is designed for mens wear. The one in Fig. 3 is termed a half-box, and is designed for ladies wear, the main difference between it and Fig. 1 is, that it is shorter, and covers less of the toe.

We make our improved toe-box of thin rawhidethat is, hides of neat or other stock which have been merely unhaired and are void of tannin. m'e'ffllbokj'like Fig? 1,

wfifith'fifdr into blanks of the form shown in Fig. 2, and, by means of suitable dies, then press said blank into the form shown in Fig. 1. In order to mold the hide and have .it retain its shape, heated dies may be used or, if

desired, the process of molding rawhide doll heads patented to F. E. Darrow, May 1, 1866, may be employed.

After removing the boxes from the dies and drying a few hours, a coat of shellac or varnish may be applied, and the article is ready for the market, and for application to boots and shoes by the manufacturer.

For a half-box, like Fig. 3, smaller blanks are used, the same being formed into shape by means of dies, as above described. The arms a, as shown, are for the purpose of securing the device in place, said arms resting upon and secured to the under side of the insole, and, by drawing the arms to or from each other, the width of the box may be somewhat varied in order to make them conform to (lifferent lasts.

Boxes have been heretofore formed of leather, wood, paper, 850., but all of them have proved more or less objectionable. The following gives some of the advantages of our invention. By pressing in heated dies, or while hot, as in the Darrow process, we obtain the desired form very quickly, and with but little labor and expense; it is stiff and elastic, so as to retain its perfect form, and still it is so thin that its edge does not need to be chainfered or skived; its weight is probably less than that of any other box; it is thinner than boxes made from any other substance, thus giving more room for the toes, and a neater finish to the boot or shoe; it is much more durable than the ordinary boxes, and the arms a a enable the box to be spread or contracted in order to fit the box to lasts of varying sizes.

We claim as our invention As a new article of manufacture, the hereindescribed rawhide toebox, composed of rawhide, and provided with the arms a a, as shown, and molded into concave form by means of dies, substantially as and for the purpose described.

FRANKLIN E. DARROW. OSCAR E. WAIT.

Witnesses ALBERT W. LAM,

GEORGE F. OAKES. 

